2024 Alameda and Contra Costa counties in California Apricot U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Apricot U-Pick Orchards in Alameda and Contra Costa counties in California in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for apricots that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have apricots orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!

Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!

PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.

Contra Costa County

• AIRAYA U-Pick Farm - apricots, cherries, peaches, plums, pluots
  25221 Marsh Creek Road, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: (408) 515-5878. Email: mnydam@airaya.com. Open: Late April through Mid August Thursday & Friday: 9 am to 4 pm; Saturday & Sunday: 9 am to 4 pm; closed on Monday-Wednesday. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. Click here for our Facebook page. We highly recommend checking for updates just before coming out to the orchard. Occasionally we must close due to weather, muddy fields after a late watering day, or having to wait for more of the fruit to ripen.  (UPDATED: September 2, 2023, JBS)  (ADDED: November 06, 2019)
• Bacchini's Fruit Tree - Sweet Red Cherries, White Cherries, White Peaches, Montmorency Cherries (sour), Olallieberries, Pluots, Plums, White Nectarines, Apricots, Loquats, Walnuts
  Corner of Walnut Blvd & Concord Avenue, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: 925-634-3645. Email: info@brentwoodfruit.com. Open: 8 am to 4 pm, daily - make reservations here. Directions: Located in beautiful Brentwood, California. Click here for a map and directions. . is a family operated Picked and U-Pick fruit stand. We are . Just 60 miles east of San Francisco. Growing premium quality fruits since 1945. Each year we are open during May & June to offer our fresh fruit, grown in our orchard, for you to pick!! FREE Parking. Pay for what you pick (see our tips). Low trees, Ladders not needed. Fruit Stand Hours 8:00am to 5:00pm. No Reservations needed. No pets/animals allowed in orchard. OK to "sample" fruit but this is NOT an all you can eat farm. Lots of good stuff coming! These should be ready sometime in May and June:White Peaches: Coming in 2021Sweet Cherries: Coming in 2021White Rainier cherries: Coming in 2021Olallieberries: Coming in 2021Pluots: Coming in 2021White Nectarines: Coming in 2021Apricots: Coming in 2021Loquats: Coming in 2021Raw Honey: Coming in 2021
• Dwelley Farms - apricots, cherries, peaches, tomatoes, cucumbers, and chili peppers
  515 Delta Road, Brentwood, CA . Phone: 925-634-6508. Email: dwelleyfarms@gmail.com. Open: Thursday-Monday 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Click here for a map and directions. Dwelley Farms. . Also pre-picked nectarines, white peaches, white nectarines, and veggies. Honey and eggs also sold on site. Picnic area. Groups must call in advance. (UPDATED: April 27, 2015, JBS)
• Farmer's Daughter Produce - Cherries, Apricots, Many Varieties of Freestone and Cling Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, White Peaches and White Nectarines.
  Walnut & Marsh Creek Road, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: (925) 634-4827. Email: hailey@farmersdaughterproduce.com. Open: Daily, weekdays from 8 am to 7 pm and weekends from 8am -6pm early June to August. Click here for a map and directions. . Daily, weekdays from 8 am to 7 pm and weekends from 8am -6pm (early June to August). Also Picked Daily Sweet White Corn and a Wide Variety of other Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.
  Comments from a visitor on July 12, 2009: "I visited Farmer's Daughter Farm in Contra Costa County - Brentwood. The fruit there is pesticide free. A fact that would likely draw many more people out to the area. I know the regulations for organic farming are quite strict but if the website indicated if certain farms were pesticide free that would certainly draw more people out to the farms and the produce."
• McKinney Farms, A Peachy Place - peaches, apricots, nectarines, white nectarines, and plums.
  25221 Marsh Creek Road, Brentwood, CA . Phone: 925-634-7350. Open: call for hours. Click here for a map and directions.
  McKinney Farms, A Peachy Place Facebook page. . U-pick and picked peaches (white, freestone, and cling), apricots (Blenheim and Katy), nectarines, white nectarines, and plums. Fruit stand also offers picked vegetables and melons in season, dried fruits, and refreshments. If you are interested in picking delicious peaches, nectarines, and apricots, then come to "A Peachy Place," farm #28 on the Harvest Time map. Our season typically runs from late May through early August.
• Peter Wolfe Ranch Concord Ave - Apricots, peaches, cherries, tomatoes, loquats, watermelons
  22111 Concord Ave (HT #23), Brentwood, CA . Phone: 925-634-1308. Email: peter@peterwolfe.com. Open: call for hours; Available May - August. Directions: Located in Brentwood in east Contra Costa County, just 60 miles east of San Francisco. Visit our website for directions and availability. . Click here for a map and directions. .
• Peter Wolfe Ranch Creek Road - Apricots, peaches, cherries, mandarins, tomatoes, loquats, watermelons
  7700 Creek Rd, Brentwood, CA . Phone: 925-634-1308. Email: peter@peterwolfe.com. Open: call for hours. Directions: Located in Brentwood in east Contra Costa County, just 60 miles east of San Francisco. Click here for a map and directions. . Spring White Peaches -Early May, Fay Elberta - July. . Visit our website for directions and availability.
• Peter Wolfe Ranch Eureka Ave - Apricots, peaches, cherries, tomatoes, loquats, watermelons
  6600 Eureka Avenue, Brentwood, CA . Phone: 925-634-1308. Email: peter@peterwolfe.com. Open: call for hours; May, June for U-Pick. Directions: Located in Brentwood in east Contra Costa County, just 60 miles east of San Francisco. Click here for a map and directions. . . Visit our website for directions and availability.
• Peter Wolfe Ranch Payne Ave - Apricots, peaches, cherries, tomatoes, loquats, watermelons
  1164 Payne Avenue, Brentwood, CA . Phone: 925-634-1308. Email: peter@peterwolfe.com. Open: call for hours. Directions: Located in Brentwood in east Contra Costa County, just 60 miles east of San Francisco. Click here for a map and directions. . ;Available May - August. . Visit our website for directions and availability.
• Pomeroy Farms - Bing, White Rainier & Brooks Cherries, Nectarines, Peaches, Apricots
  Marsh Creek Road, Brentwood, CA . Phone: 925-634-7712. Open: call for hours. Directions: west of Walnut Blvd. \(Vasco Rd.\). Also Bing and White Rainier Cherries on Payne Ave. east of Walnut Blvd; . Click here for a map and directions.
  Pomeroy Farms Facebook page. . Phone: west of Walnut Blvd. (Vasco Rd.). Also Bing and White Rainier Cherries on Payne Ave. east of Walnut Blvd; click here for a map. Harvest starts approximately May 20 to June 15. Nectarines in June Springcrest & Flavorcrest Peaches, Patterson & Westley Apricots on the east end of Eureka Ave. May 20 to June 30. Walnuts & Walnut meats available.We offer a variety of u-pick cherries, peaches, nectarines and apricots. We have 3 yellow peach varieties Flavorcrest, Springcrest, Earlirich and Galaxy "UFO" White Peaches. Come Visit to Pick Your Fresh Fruit! We offer a variety of cherries including Bing, White Rainier, and Brooks cherries. In addition, we have the best peaches, nectarines and apricots around! Pomeroy Farm Facebook page. At each of the farms we also offer fresh picked walnuts that are shelled and packaged. The walnuts also come from my various orchards.
• Rancho Zaragoza - apricots, figs, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, pluots
  1320 Walnut Blvd, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: (925) 812-2645. Email: ranchozaragosa2020@gmail.com. Open: beginning of June, call for hours, days and availability. Click here for a map and directions. Rancho Zaragoza . Please come visit us! Family friendly U-Pick Farm. White & Yellow Peaches, Apricots, Pluots, White & Yellow Nectarines, Figs, Asian Pears, Plums, Onions & Honey. We provide a bucket to pick with and box it up for you to take home. Trees are low enough to pick from without ladders. Best to call for weekly updates. Please come visit us! (UPDATED: May 15, 2017, JBS) (ADDED: April 29, 2015, JBS)
• Three Nunns Farm - Uses natural growing practices, apples, apricots, blackberries, cherries, corn (sweet), cucumbers, flowers, melons, nectarines, other berries, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (yellow), raspberries (Spring, yellow), raspberries (Autumn, yellow), raspberries (black), raspberries (Spring, black), raspberries (Autumn, black), summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, watermelons, Honey from hives on the farm
  550 Walnut Blvd, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: (925) 550-1484. Email: Threenunnsfarm@gmail.com. Open: Call for current hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  Three Nunns Farm Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: (925) 550-0780. . ^ Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. Formerly called George's Roadside Berry Farm. (UPDATED: April 22, 2020) Another list of farms and farm stands in this area (not necessarily PYO)

 

Apricot Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

In the U.S., Apricots typically peak from June through July in the South, and July and August in the North. In order to produce good local apricots, producers depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions, and no late frosts. If you want to know which are the best varieties of apricots for home canning, see this page!

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - Apricots are affected by weather (both rain and cooler temperature) more than most crops. And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first!
2. Leave early.  On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
3. Most growers furnish picking containers designed for apricots, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring containers.
   If you use your own containers, remember that heaping Apricots on top of each other will bruise the fruit on the bottom. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good containers, so you can spread them out.
4. Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring along if it has been rainy.
5. You might want to ask whether the apricots are! There are two major types of apricots: "Freestone" and. "Clingstone". Freestone apricots and nectarines have flesh that slips easily away from the pit. Clingstones are a REAL pain, because the fruit tenaciously clings to the stone or pit! Most apricot varieties grown today are freestone and are usually available (depending upon your location) from June through September. Some nectarines are freestone and some are clingstone. Freestone nectarines are available in June and July. Most plum varieties are clingstone. 

How to tell if the apricots are ripe!

• Attached to the tree: Apricots are best picked when the fruit separates easily from the twigs. If it is hard to pull off the tree, it isn't ripe! Apricots will not ripen further once removed from the tree (they only "soften")
• Color: Green is definitely unripe, but you can't use red color as an indicator of how ripe a apricot is. Different apricot varieties have differing amounts of red blush in their natural coloring. Pick them when the ground color changes from green to yellow, orange, red (or a combination). The skin of yellow-fleshed varieties ripens to an orange tint, while the skin of white-fleshed varieties changes from greenish- to yellow-white.
• Softness: unless you like your apricots very firm, pick your apricots with just a little "give" when gently pressed. Apricots at this stage are great for eating, freezing, and baking. Apricots won't ripen very much after picking!
• Odor: It should smell sweet and ripe!

Tips on How to Pick Apricots

A apricot is softer than most fruit, so it is important to pick a apricot gently, with little pressure. Using the sides of your fingers rather your fingertips helps to avoid bruising.  Grab the apricot firmly and pull it straight off the branch. DON'T drop the apricot into the basket, but set it in gently!

Marks on the Apricots: Bugs (particularly squash bugs and stink bugs) bite fruit during development and this results in some imperfections in the apricot. This is especially the case with organically raised fruit.  These look like dents in the apricots if the apricots were bitten by a bug when they were young. This causes a spot that does not grow properly and makes a wrinkle in the apricot. There's nothing wrong with these apricots. They may look funny, but they will taste just as good as blemish-free apricots, and it's better not to have the pesticides!

When you get home

1. Spread the fruit out on towels or newspapers and separate any mushy or damaged fruit to use immediately.
2. Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash and cut the others and freeze them up!
3. Even under ideal conditions apricots will only keep for a week in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible after purchase
4. Now, get ready to make Apricot jam or canned apricots - It is VERY easy - especially with our free  directions and recipes:

Apricot Canning, Freezing and Recipes

• How to make Apricot jam
• Canning apricots
• How to freeze apricots
• Here are some great and easy apricot desert recipes, like easy apricot cobbler.

How much do you need?

Raw measures:

• About 6 medium apricots = 1 cup sliced apricots.
• About 4 medium apricots = 1 cup pureed apricot.
• 1 pound fresh apricots = 8 to 12 whole fruits

Process yields (Raw amounts to processed amounts)

• 2 to 21/2 pounds of fresh apricots yields 1 quart canned
• 2-1/2 pounds fresh apricots = 2 to 3 pints frozen
• 1 lb of fresh apricots typically yields 3 cups of peeled, sliced apricots or 2 cups or puree.
• It takes about 5 good sizes apricots or nectarines (or about 10 plums) to fill one quart jar of canned apricots.
• An average of 17 -1/2 pounds of fresh apricots are needed per canner load of 7 quarts;
• An average of 11 pounds is needed per canner load of 9 pints.
• 1 bushel = 48 to 50 pounds, yields approximately 18 to 25 quart jars.

Apricots-Average retail price per pound and per cup equivalent

Canned Apricots

• 16-ounce can apricots = 2 cups drained

Dried Apricots

• 6 pounds fresh apricots = 1 pound dried apricots
• 1 pound dried apricots = 2-3/4 cups
• 1 pound dried apricots = 5 cups cooked
• 6 ounces dried apricots = 1 cup
• 6 ounces dried apricots = 2 cups cooked

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)

• Farm markets and roadside stands
• Local Honey Finder
• Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
• Venues: Farms, Wineries, Orchards for your event, wedding or party
• Easter egg hunts
• Children"s consignment sales
• Fruit and vegetable festivals
• Winery tours and wine tastings
• Horse rides, stables, lessons, trails
• Maple Syrup farms and sugarworks
• Bed & Breakfasts on Farms, Wineries, Ranches and Orchards
• Pumpkin patches
• Corn mazes
• Zombie Paintball venues
• Christmas Tree Farms & lots
• Environmental resources
• Consumer fraud information
• Wholesale food sources
• Resources for Farmers